Packaging mechanism



Oct. 25, 1960 c. B. HARKER PACKAGING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNOV. 12, 1957 w Q 7 V Y M f N n a w MN my" m m, w 7 N J "0 MN 5 Q I v, 50w h m 'o C L/ KN o o n g -v5 l AWN .MMHHM 3 no 0 0 WW On 0 PO. 6.? I. vQ: aw

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Oct. 25, 1960 c, HARKER 2,957,284

PACKAGING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 CAITORNEY/ Oct.25, 1960 c. B. HARKER PACKAGING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 12, 1957 7Sheets-Sheet 3 lllll CR ORDEYr Oct. 25, 1960 c. B. HARKER PACKAGINGMECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 luvzzro-rokd Chew-lea B.

Oct. 25, 1960 c. B. HARKER PACKAGING MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledNov. 12, 1957 MVSIQ'TQM Ckcxvleq B- k ij 7 M g WvA-j Oct. 25, 1960 c. B.HARKER 2,957,284

PACKAGING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 12, 1957 '1 Sheets-Sheet '7 NVEMTQM Ch.'2 12 CH vk United States PACKAGING MECHANISM This invention relates toautomatic measuring and packaging equipment, and more particularly, to amachine for measuring and packaging granular substances which aresticky, compactable, and generally non-freeflowing, such as brown sugar.

The general object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmachine of the above character which operates automatically and at highspeeds without clogging and sticking, and which is accurate in measuringgranular substances of the above type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the foregoingcharacters which will operate continuously for long periods of time andin which the parts are arrayed in a novel manner so that the measuringunit may be cleaned after each measurement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanism for forming a measured amount of the substance to be packagedinto a mass having the approximate shape of the ultimate package and forreleasing the shaped mass preparatory to the packing thereof in acontainer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved mechanism for forcibly filling a forming and measuring deviceof the above type thereby to fill successive containers with uniformamounts of a sticky granular substance. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanism for cleaning the measuring device to remove residual adherentparticles therefrom before a subsequent measurement is performed.

Still a further object is to provide a plurality of measuring devices ofthe above character thereby enabling one device to be measured whileanother is being cleaned.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of a packaging mechanism embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of bags to be filled by themechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation end view of a dispensing mechanismembodying the present invention taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the dispensing mechanism taken along theline 4-4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the turret mechanism takensubstantially in the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the forming and measuring dietaken substantially in the plane of line 66 of Figure 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of one portion of the measuring diein the plane of line 7--7 of Figure 5.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially in the plane of line 8-8 ofFigure 3.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a movable die member.

ate 0 p 2,957,284 Patented Oct. 25, 1960 ice Fig. 10 is a section takenalong the line 10--10 of Figure 5 and showing the brushes for cleaningthe device.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 5 and showing awashing mechanism.

General While an illustrative measuring and packaging mechanism has beenshown in the drawings and will be described below in detail, it is to beunderstood that there is no intention to limit the invention to thespecific form disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, alternative constructions, equivalents and uses fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is there exemplified in apackaging machine mounted upon an elongated frame 20 (Figure 1) for thesuccessive operations of forming, filling, and closing a succession ofbags 21. The bags are constructed from a flexible strip 23 of bagmaterial such as metal foil or paper coated on one side with a heatsealable thermoplastic material. The material 23 is drawn from a supplyroll (not shown) and is passed through rollers 29 at a bag formingstation 22 where it is folded to form opposed strips 30 and 31 joined attheir bottom edges by a fold or crease 32 and with the heat sealablematerial on the inside of the bag in face to face relation. Upon theapplication of heat and pressure, at spaced intervals with sealing irons34, vertical cross seals 35 are formed which provide the leading edgeseal of one bag and the trailing edge seal of the preceding bag. Thesealed strip of the bag blanks is pulled by feed rollers 36 to asevering station 24 where a knife 38 cuts the bags apart along thevertical seals 35 leaving individual bags 21. The bags thus formed havefront and rear panels 40, 41 joined at their bottom edges by the fold 32and at their side edges by seals 42 formed from the cross seals 35 andare open at their top for receiving brown sugar or other material.

As the bags 21 are severed from the strips by the knife 38, they aregrasped by grippers 25 carried on an endless conveyor chain 44 (Figure3) and thus conveyed through the opening and filling station 26 andthence through the closing and sealing station 27. At the station 26,the bag mouths are opened by a suitable opening mechanism 45 comprisinga pair of thin flexible sheet metal plates 46, which, when inserted intothe bag mouth, are bowed outwardly to form a spout holding the bag mouthopen. The plates, which are normally flat, are supported at their sideedges between a pair of arms 47. By moving the arms together, one sideedge of each plate is moved toward the other edge and the plates bowoutwardly to form an oval spout. Such a mechanism is described in mycopending U.S. application Serial No. 682,476, filed September 6, 1957,now Patent No. 2,899,786, to which reference should be made for a moredetailed description. A measured amount of brown sugar then is droppedinto the bag through the spout and the open bag mount from a measuringand filling mechanism 48.

When the bag is filled, it is carried by the gripper 25 on conveyor 44to the closing station 27 where horizontal sealing irons 49 engage theupper edges of the bag panels 40 and 41 and seal them together. All ofthe operations of the machine are synchronized by means of suitable camand gear mechanisms (not shown). An illustrative mechanism for thispurpose is described in U.S. Patent No. 2,649,674.

The measuring and filling mechanism The present invention contemplatesthe provision of a new and improved mechanism for accurately dispensinga measured amount of sticky, compactable, non-freeflowing granularmaterial and for filling an open container with that measured quantity.This means comprises a measuring die'which is'filled with the granularmaterial by forcibly ejecting that material from a supply source andinto the die where it is shaped to the approximate configuration of theultimate package; The measuring die is moved from under the supply to aposition over an open container and the measured and formed quantity ofthe material then is discharged into the open package. The measuringmechanism thenis indexed to a position where it is cleaned of residualadhering granules in preparation for the next filling and measuringoperation.

For carrying out the objects of the invention, the illustrative fillingmechanism 48, which is supported'on a plate 48a on the upper end of apost 49a upstanding from the base 20, embodies three synchronizedturrets, namely a hopper turret 50 serving as a supply source ofmaterial, a screen turret 51, and a measuring and forming die turret 52,the turrets being journaled respectively on suitable shafts 53, 54, 55for rotation about three parallel vertical axes a, b and respectively.The turrets are synchronously indexed by the use of an index drive chain56 drivingly connected to each turret 50, 51, 52 by means of'sprockets57, 58, 59 respectively. Herein, the turret 52 is driven by a chain 60which extends around a tooth disk (not shown) on the output of theGeneva mechanism for indexing the-conveyor 44 and around a tooth plate52a (Figure 8) rigid with the turret 52, the turrets 50 and 51 turningin synchronism with the turret 52 through the medium of the belt 56. Inone index position, sugar is blown by a blower head 62, to be described,from a supply hopper 63 on the hopper turret 50 into a measuring die 64located beneath that hopper on the die turret 52. The filled measuringdie is then indexed to the next position where the brown sugar from thedie 64 is discharged into an open bar or other container 21 locatedbeneath the die 64. In a third position, the measuring and forming dieis washed and prepared for a succeeding operation.

In. order to provide a supply source of brown sugar small enough for ablowing operation, the sugar is supplied to the measuring dies 64 fromthe hoppers 63 carried on the hopper turret. Two or more hoppers arepreferably employed, one being filled while the other is supplying sugarto a die. The hoppers comprise a generally cylindrical housing having adownwardly opening nozzle 68 through which the sugar is discharged. Thehoppers are mounted on a support plate 69 journaled on the hopper turretshaft 53. The hopper tur-ret 50 is indexed to bring each hopper 63 intouse periodically and the supply of sugar in each hopper is continuallyreplenished through a nozzle 71 leading from the supply source (Figure7) as the hoppers 63 are turned by the turret 50, their nozzles 68 rideon a horizontal plate 71a secured to the plate 48a to keep the materialin the hopper. The plate 71a is cut away under the blowing head 62 asindicated at 71b in Figure 5. Along this portion, the screen 74 isbeneath the nozzle and keeps the material in the hopper except duringthe blowing operation.

To allow air to escape from the die while sugar is being packed thereinwithout carrying loose sugar with it, upper and lower screens 74, 75,carried on the screen turret 51, are interposed between the hopper 63and the die 64 and at the open lower end of the die respec tively. Thescreens are formed in the shape of large discs and are journaled on thescreen turret shaft 54, as shown in Figure 10, for rotation about axisb. When sugar is being blown from the hopper 63 into a die 64, it passesthrough a suitable aperture 76 in the upper screen correspondingapproximately in size to the outletv 68 at the lower end of thehopper63. The screen turret is indexed with the hopper and die turrets so as.

to present aclean screen area to each die to be filled;

This allows a free passage of air for each measurement and assists inmaking uniform measurements.

The die turret 52 comprises a cylindrical housing 80 (Figures 4 and 8)secured to a circular plate 81 journaled on the shaft 55 for rotationabout axis 0. The shaped forming dies 64, which may be elliptical, forexample, are circumferentially spaced on this turret and are formed ofan outer stationary member 84, which is a rigid part of the turret 52,and an inner movable member 85 slidably mounted on the housing 80. Theinner die member 85 is urged away from the stationary die member 84 by aset of springs 86 acting against vertical pins 87 on the inner member 85and against abutments 88 on the housing 80. The limit of travel of theinner member 85 away from the outer member is determined by suitableslot 89 in the plate 81 and the housing 80, which engage the pins 87against which the springs act.

During the filling operation, the inner member 85 is held against theouter member 84 to form the die 64 by means of a cam roller 91 on theinner member acting against a cam 92 fixed to a shaft 55ajournaledinside of the shaft 55 on which the die turret 52 is journaled(see Figures 4 and 8). The shaft 55a is turned by the main camshaft ofthe packaging machine through a rod 55b and a crank 55c fast on thelower end of the shaft. In other words, the shaft 55a is oscillated tocause the cam 92 to produce the desired movements of the inner diemember 85. Thus, each die is closed as it is being filled and remainsclosed as it is turned to the discharge position above the open mouth ofthe bag 21. While the filled die is dwelling above the bag, a fall onthecam 92 engages the follower 91 so that the springs 86 force the innerdie member 85 away from the outer die member 84 thereby releasing thepacked sugar in the die. Once the sugar has been discharged, the dieremains in the open position during the cleaning operation and, justbefore the die 64 approaches the filling position, the cam followerrides onto a rise on the cam edge to close the die by moving the innermember towards the outer member and against the action of the springs86.

Sugar is forced through the hopper nozzle 68 into a die 64 locatedbeneath the hopper by the blower head 62 which applies a blast of air tothe upper surface of sugar in the hopper (Figure 3). When the hopper,screen and die turrets 50, 51, 52 respectively, have been indexed toalign a clean die 64 and screens 74 and 75 with a hopper 63, the die,screens, and hopper are clamped tightly together to prevent the escapeof sugar from between them during the blow. To this end, the blower head62 is lowered against the hopper 63 and a clamp table 95 is raisedagainst the screen 75 at the bottom of the die 64. The mounting of thehopper and screen turrets allows for an axial movement sufiicient toaccommodate them to this clamping action. For example, the screens aremounted for relative axial movement, as shown in Figure 10, by securingthe upper and lower screens to flanges 96 and 97 slidablyengaged withprojecting pins 98 and 99 fixed on a member 100 mounted on the screenturret shaft 54. The upper screen 74 is urged upwardly and apart fromthe lower screen 75 by a spiral spring 102.

For moving the blower head and clamp table up and down to hold thehopper screens 74 and 75 and die 64 together, a suitable cam operatedtoggle linkage mechanism is provided (Figure 3 This mechanismv 105comprises an arm 106 pivoted on a post 107 secured to the plate 88a andfixed at one end to the blower head 62. A second arm 109 also pivoted tothe post 107 is fixed at one end to the clamp table 95', and these armsare connected at their free ends to a pair of link members 110, 111pivoted to the arms at onerend and together at their other ends by a pin112. By swinging the links 110 and 111 out or in, the arms 106' and 109move the blower head 62 and clamp table 95 together or apartrespectively. This swinging movement is' accomplished by a link 114pivoted to the pin 112 joining the toggle links 110 and 111 and to atoggle arm 115 swingably mounted on a support arm 116 secured to thepost 107. The toggle arm 115 is moved by a crank mechanism whichincludes a link -118 pivoted to the toggle arm at one end and to ahorizontal crank arm 119 at its other end. The crank arm is in turnfixed to a vertical crank rod 120 journaled in brackets 121 on the post.To rotate the crank rod 120 a second horizontal crank arm 123 is fixedon the lower end of the crank rod 120 and is pivotally engaged with thefollower rod 124 of a cam mechanism 125. The follower rod 124 carries,at its free end, a roller or follower 127 urged against the surface of arotating cam 128 by a spiral spring 129. As the cam rotates, the roller127 rides on the cam surface and the follower rod 124 is moved back andforth to swing the crank arm 123 which rotates the crank rod 120 toswing the upper crank arm 119 and thereby swing the toggle arm 115. Thismovement of the toggle arm swings the toggle links either out or in andthereby moves the blower head 62 and clamp 95 towards or away from eachother.

When the blower head 62 is against the hopper 63 and the clamp table 95holds the lower screen 75 against the die 64, air is applied by theblower head to the hopper to force sugar into the die. As the sugarflows into the die through the holes 76 in the upper screen, air in thedie passes out through the screens, as shown in Figure 6, and the die iscompletely filled. The blower head 62 and clamp 95 are then moved apartto release the hopper, screens and die, and the die turret 52 is indexedto position the filled die above an open bag. At this point the innerand outer die members 84 and 85 are separated and the sugar containedtherein is either pushed or allowed to drop into the bag. When the diecontents have been discharged, the die turret is rotated to index thedie to a cleaning position where a washing mechanism 132 (Figures 9 and11) sprays the die with air or water to remove any residual particles ofsugar which have stuck to the die walls.

The washing mechanism 132 comprises a cone shaped nozzle 133 havingports 134 therein through which a fine spray 135 of air, water or steamcan be directed into the die 64. T o insure a thorough washing of thedie, the nozzle 133 is rotated by a belt 138 which is driven by a motor138a and engages a pulley 139 fixed to the nozzle 133. A transfer ring140 on the lower end of the nozzle permits the nozzle 133 to rotateduring the cleaning operation.

While the die is being cleaned, the screens 74 and 75 are thoroughlybrushed by rotating brushes 142, 143 to remove any residual sugarparticles (Figure 8). From the cleaning station, the cleaned screens 74and 75 and die 64 are indexed into position beneath the supply hopper 63where the die is again filled and the cycle repeated.

Summary of operation With the mechanism described above, a bag 21 isformed from a strip 23 of heat scalable plastic material by folding asheet of the material into facing strips 30 and 31 and periodicallysealing the strips to form a succession of bags. Individual bags 21 arecut from the strip, seized by grippers 25 on a conveyor 44, and carriedto the filling and closing stations 26 and 27 of the mechanism. At thefilling station 26 the bag mouth is expanded for receiving a charge ofmaterial from a filling mechanism 45.

Simultaneously with the formation of a bag 21 a measuring die 64,forming a part of the filling mechanism 46, is filled with brown sugarby clamping the die between a pair of screens 74 and 75 and under theoutlet nozzle 68 of a supply hopper 63. Brown sugar from the hopper isthen forcibly blown by a blower head 62 into the die 64. The die is thenindexed over the open bag mouth and is expanded to allow the formedsugar mass to drop or be pushed into the bag 21. The bag is then closedand sealed and, at the same time the die and screens are washed andcleaned to remove any residual sugar particles which may have stuck tothem. At the same time, the hopper 63 is indexed to a position beneaththe material source 71 where is receives another change of materialpreparatory to the next filling operation. The cycle is then repeatedrapidly and automatically.

I claim:

1. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, three turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis whereby portionsof the turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by afirst one of said turrets to turn with the latter between a firstposition along said first axis and a second position spaced from thefirst axis, means operable to dispense a quantity of material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, die carried bysaid second turret to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis and a second position spaced fiom the first axis,said cylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and the die are in their respective first positions, a screencarried by said third turret and projecting in between said cylinder andsaid die when the latter are in their respective first positions, meansoperable to cause said head to blow air along said first axis when saidcylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby to blow thematerial from the cylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operableto turn said turrets and advance said cylinder and said die to theirsecond positions, and means operable when said die is in said secondposition to transfer the material from the die to a container.

2. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, three turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis whereby portionof the turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by afirst one of said turrets to turn with the latter between a firstposition along said first axis and a second position spaced from thefirst axis, means operable to dispense a quantity of material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, die carried bysaid second turret to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis and a second position spaced from the first axis,said cylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and the die are in their respective first positions, a screencarried by said third turret and projecting in between said cylinder andsaid die, means for clamping said blower head, cylinder, screens and dietogether when said cylinder and die are in their first positions, meansoperable to cause said head to blow air along said first axis when saidcylinder and said die are clamped together thereby to blow the materialfrom the cylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operable torelease said clamping means, means operable upon the release of saidclamping means to turn said turrets and advance said cylinder and saiddie to their second positions, and means operable when said die is insaid second position to transfer the material from the die to acontainer.

3. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a

blower head operable intermittently to blow air along a firstpredetermined axis, three turrets mounted to turn about individual axesangularly spaced around and parallel to said first axis, each of saidturrets intersecting said first axis whereby portions of theturrets'overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by a firstone of said turrets to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis and a" second position spaced from the first axis,means operable to dispense a quart tity of material into said cylinderwhen the cylinder is in said second position, a die carried by saidsecond turret to turn with the latter between a first position alongsaid, first axis, a secondposition spaced from the first axis and athird position spaced from the first and second positions, said cylinderbeing interposed between said head and said die when the cylinder andthe die are in their respective first positions, a screen carried bysaid third turret and projecting in between said cylinder and said diewhen the latter are in their respective first positions, means operableto cause said head to blow air along said first axis when said cylinderand said die are in their first positions thereby to blow the materialfrom the cylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operable to turnsaid turrets and advance said cylinder and said die to their secondpositions, means operable when said die is in said second position totransfer the material from the die to a container, said mechanism beingsubsequently' operable to turn said turrets and advance said die to itsthird position, and means operable when said die is in said thirdposition for cleaning said die and said screen of residual cohesivegranules.

4'. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, three turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and paral lel to saidfirst axis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis wherebyportions of the turrets overlap each other and said head, at least twocylinders carried by a first one of said turrets to turn with thelatter, said cylinder turret thereby positioning each cylinderalternately in a first position along said first axis and in a secondposition spaced from the first axis, means operable to dispense aquantity of material into each of saidcylinder-s when the cylinder is insaid second position, at least two dies carried by said second turret toturn with the latter, said die turret thereby positioning each diealternately in a first position along said first axis and in a secondposition spaced from the first axis, one of said cylinders beinginterposed between said head and one of said dies when the cylinder andthe die are in their respective first positions, a screen carried bysaid third turret and projecting in between the first position cylinderand the first position die, means operable to cause said head to blowair along said first axi when the cylinder and the die are alined intheir first positions thereby to blow the material from the cylinderinto the die, mechanism subsequently operable to turn said turrets andadvance the blown cylinder and the filled die to their second positionsand the full cylinder and the empty die to their, first positions, andmeans operable when the filled die is in said second position totransfer the material from the die to a' container.

5. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a firstpredeterrnined axis, three turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis whereby portionsof the turrets overlap each other andsaid head, at least two materialcontaining cylinders" carried by a first one of said turrets to turn awith the latter, said cylinder turret thereby positioning 8each'cylin'der alternately in a first position along said first axis andin a second position spaced from the first axis, means operable to disenses quantity of material into each of said cylinders when the cylinderis in said second position, eachrof said cylinders having an outletspout, at least two dies carried by said'second turret to turn with thelatter, said die turret thereby positioning each die alternately in afirst position along said first axis, in a second position spaced fromthe first axis, and in a third position spaced from said first andsecond positions, one of said cylinders being interposed between saidhead and one of said dies when the cylinder and the die are in theirrespective first positions, a pair of screens carried by said thirdturret to turn with the'latter, said turret thereby positioning aportion of said screens alternately in a first position along said firstaxis and in a second position spaced from the first axis, said screenportions projecting in the first turret position on opposite sides ofsaid die and with one or" said screens between said cylinder and saiddie, thereby preventing the passage of material from the die whilepermitting the escape of air during the blow, said one screen havingspaced apertures therethrough corresponding" in size to the outletspouts and in number to at least the number of said cylinders, means forclamping said blower head, cylinder, screens, and die together when saidcylinder and die are in their first positions, means operable to causesaid head to blow air along said first axis when said cylinder and saiddie are clamped together thereby to blow the material from the cylinderinto the die, mechanism subsequently operable to release said clampingmeans, means operable upon the release of said clamping means to turnsaid turrets and advance said cylinder and said die die to. their secondpositions, means operable when said (he is in said second position totransfer the material from the die to a container, and a cleaningmechanism operable when said die and said screens are in theirrespective' third positions for cleaning the same of residual cohesivegranules, said mechanism including a nozzle for directing a cleaningfluid internally of said die and a pairof spaced brushes for scrubbingsaid screens.

6. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, a pair of turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis whereby portionsof the turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by afirst one of said turrets to mm with the latter between a first positlonalong said first axis and a second position spaced from the first axis,means operable to dispense a quantity of material into said cylinderwhen the cylinder is in said second position, a die carried by saidsecond turret to turn with the latter between a first position alongsaid first axis and a second position spaced from the first axis, saidcylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and the die are in their respectlve first positions, meansoperable to cause said head to blow air along said first axis when saidcylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby to blow thematerial from the cylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operableto turn said turrets and advance said cylinder and said die to theirsecond positions, and means operable when said die is in said secondposition to transfer the material from the die to a container.

r 7. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermmed quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, three turrets mounted to turnabout individual angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first whereby portions ofthe turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by afirst one of said turrets to turn with the latter between a firstposition along said first axis and a second position spaced from thefirst axis, means operable to dispense a quantity of material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, die carried bysaid second turret to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis and a second position spaced from the first axis,said cylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and the die are in their respective first positions, means forclamping said blower head, cylinder, and die together when said cylinderand die are in their first positions, means operable to cause said headto blow air along said first axis when said cylinder and said die areclamped together thereby to blow the material from the cylinder into thedie, mechanism subsequently operable to release said clamping means,means operable upon the release of said clamping means to turn saidturrets and advance said cylinder and said die to their second positionto transfer the material from the die to a container.

8. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicehaving, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently to blowair along a first predetermined axis, a pair of turrets mounted to turnabout individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to said firstaxis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis whereby portionsof the turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylinder carried by afirst one of said turrets to turn with the latter between a firstposition along said first axis and a second position spaced from thefirst axis, means operable to dispense a quantity of material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, die carried bysaid second turret to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis and a second position spaced from the first axis,said die comprising first and second separable portions, said cylinderbeing interposed between said head and said die when the cylinder andthe die are in their respective first positions, means operable to causesaid head to blow air along said first axis when said cylinder and saiddie are in their first positions thereby to blow the material from thecylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operable to turn saidturrets and advance said cylinder and said die to their secondpositions, means operative in response to the rotation of the die turretto position the die in said second position for separating said firstdie portions from said second die portions, and means operable when saiddie is in said second position and said die portions are separated totransfer the material from the die to a container.

9. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a first predetermined axis, a pair of turrets mounted toturn about individual axes angularly spaced around and parallel to saidfirst axis, each of said turrets intersecting said first axis wherebyportions of the turrets overlap each other and said head, a cylindercarried by a first one of said turrets to turn with the latter between afirst position along said first axis and a second position spaced fromthe first axis, means operable to dispense a quantity of material intosaid cylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, a die cam'edby said second turret to turn with the latter between a first positionalong said first axis, a second position spaced from the first axis, anda third position spaced from said first and second positions, saidcylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and the die are in their respective first positions, meansoperable to cause said head to blow air along said first axis when said.cylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby to blow thematerial from the cylinder into the die, mechanism subsequently operableto turn said turrets and advance said cylinder and said die to theirsecond positions, means operable when said die is in said secondposition to transfer the material from the die to a container, saidmechanism being subsequently operable to turn said turrets and advancesaid die to its third position, and means operable when said die is insaid third position for cleaning said die of residual cohesive granules.

10. A device for measuring and dispensing a predeter mined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material, means for positioning said cylinder alternately in afirst position along said axis and in a second position spaced from saidaxis, means for dispensing a quantity of granular material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, a die formeasuring and shaping a predetermined quantity of the granular material,means for positioning said die alternately in a first position alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, said cylinderbeing interposed between said head and said die when the cylinder anddie are in their respective first positions along said axis, meansoperable to cause said head to blow air along said axis when saidcylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby to blow thematerial from the cylinder into the die, mechanism for subsequentlyoperating said cylinder positioning means and said die positioning meansto advance the cylinder and the die to their second positions, and meansoperable when said die is in said second position to transfer thematerial from the die to a container.

11. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, a die for measuring and shaping apredetermined quantity of the granular material, means for positioningsaid die alternately in a first position along said axis and in a secondposition spaced from said axis, said cylinder being interposed betweensaid head and said die when the cylinder and die are in their respectivefirst positions along said axis, means operable to cause said head toblow air along said axis when said cylinder and said die are in theirfirst positions thereby to blow the material from the cylinder outletinto the die, means interposed between said cylinder outlet and said diein the first position for preventing the escape of material from saiddie while passing air therefrom during the blow, mechanism forsubsequently operating said cylinder positioning means and said diepositioning means to advance the cylinder and the die to their secondpositions, and means operable when said die is in said second positionto transfer the material from the die to a container.

12. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positloning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, a die for measuring and shaping apredetermined quantity of the granular material, means for positioningsaid die alternately in a first position along said axis and in a secondposition spaced from said axis, a screen having an aperture therethroughfor passing the granular material and a plurality of surrounding smallerapertures for restricting the passage of granular material, saidcylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and die are in their respective first positions along saidaxis, said screen being interposed between said cylinder and said diewith said aperture corresponding to said spout and with the smallerapertures covering the die, means operable to cause said head to blowair along said axis when said cylinder and said die are in their firstpositions thereby to blow the material from the cylinder through saidspout and screen aperture into the die, air in the die escaping throughthe smaller screen apertures, mechanism for subsequently operating saidcylinder positioningmeans and said die positioning means to advance thecylinder and the die to their second positions, and means operable whensaid die is in said second position to transfer the material from thedie to a container.

13. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofgranules consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow airalong a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material, means for positioning said cylinder alternately in afirst position along said axis and in a second position spaced from-saidaxis, means for dispensing a quantityof granular material into saidcylinder when the cylinder is in said second position, an expandable diefor measuring and shaping a predetermined quantity of the granularmaterial, means for positioning said die alternately in a first positionalong said axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, saidcylinder being interposed between said head and said die when thecylinder and die are in their respective first positions along saidaxis, means operable to cause said head to blow air along said axis whensaid cylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby to blowthe material from the cylinder into the die, mechanism for subsequentlyoperating said cylinder positioning means and said die positioning meansto advance the cylinder and the die to their second positions, meansoperative in response to the advancing of said die to said secondposition for expanding the same, and means operable when said die isexpanded in said second position to transfer the material from the dieto a container.

14. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position spared from said axis, meansfor dispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder whenthe cylinder is in said second position, a die for measuring and shapinga predetermined quantity of the granular material, means for positioningsaid die alternately in a first position along said axis and in a secondposition spaced from said axis, said cylinder being interposed betweensaid head and said die when the cylinder and die are in their respectivefirst positions along said axis, means for clamping said blower head,cylinder, and die together when said cylinder and die are in their firstpositions, means operable to cause said head to blow air along said axiswhen said cylinder and said die are in their first positions thereby toblow the material from the cylinder outlet into the die, meansinterposed between said cylindertoutlet and said die in the firstposition for preventing the escape of material from said die whilepassing air therefrom during the blow, mechanism for subsequentlyoperating said cylinder positioning means and said die positioning meansto advance the cylinder and the die to their second positions, and meansoperable when said die is in said sec- 12 ond position to transfer thematerial from the die to a container.

15-. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, a die for measuring and shaping apredetermined quantity of the granular material, means for positioningsaid die alternately in a first position along said axis and in a secondposition spaced from said axis, a pair of spaced screens, means forpositioning said screens on opposite sides of said die in the firstposition for preventing the passage of material therefrom whilepermitting the escape of air during the blow, one of said screens havingan aperture therethrough corresponding to said spout for passing thegranular material, said cylinder being interposed between said head andsaid die when the cylinder and die are in their respective firstpositions along said axis, said one screen being interposed between saidcylinder and said die with said aperture corresponding to said spout,means for clamping said blower head, cylinder, screens, and die togetherwhen the same are in their first positions, means operable to cause saidhead to blow air along said axis when said cylinder, screens, and dieare clamped together in their first positions thereby to blow thematerial from the cylinder through said spout and screen aperture intothe die, air in the die escaping through said screens, mechanismsubsequently operable to release said clamping means, means foroperating said cylinder positioning means and said die positioning meansto advance the cylinder and the die to their second positions upon therelease of said clamping means, and means operable when said die is insaid second position to transfer the material from the die to acontainer.

16. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, an expandable die for measuring andshaping a predetermined quantity of the granular material, means forpositioning said die alternately in a first position along said axis andin a second position spaced from said axis, a pair of spaced screens,means for positioning said screens on opposite sides of said die in thefirst position for preventing the passage of material therefrom whilepermitting the escape of air during the blow, one of said screens havingan aperture therethrough corresponding to said spout for passing thegranular material, said cylinder being interposed between said headlandsaid die when the cylinder and die are in their respective firstpositions along said axis, said one screen being interposed between saidcylinder and said die with said aperture corresponding to said spout,means for clamping said blower head, cylinder, screens, and die togetherwhen the same are in their first positions, means operable to cause saidhead to blow air along said axis when said cylinder, screens and die areclamped together in their first positions thereby to blow the materialfrom the cylinder through said spout and screen aperture into the die,air in the die escaping through said screens, mechanism subsequentlyoperable to releases-aid clampingmeans, means for operating said 13cylinder positioning means and said die positioning means to advance thecylinder and the die to their second positions upon the release of saidclamping means, means operative in response to the advancing of said dieto said second position for expanding the die, and means oper able whensaid die is expanded in said position to transfer the material from thedie to a container.

17. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, a die for measuring and shaping apredetermined quantity of the granular material, means for positioningsaid die alternately in a first position along said axis, in a secondposition spaced from said axis, and in a third position spaced from saidfirst and second positions, said cylinder being interposed between saidhead and said die when the cylinder and die are in their respectivefirst positions along said axis, means operable to cause said head toblow air along said axis when said cylinder and said die are in theirfirst positions thereby to blow the material from the cyllinder outletinto the die, means interposed between said cylinder outlet and said diein the first position for preventing the escape of material from saiddie while passing air therefrom during the blow, mechanism forsubsequently operating said cylinder positioning means and said diepositioning means to advance the cylinder and the die to their secondpositions, means operable when said die is in said second position totransfer the material from the die to a container, and means operablewhen said die is in its third position for cleaning the same of residualcohesive granules.

18. A device for measuring and dispensing a predetermined quantity ofmaterial consisting essentially of cohesive granules, said devicecomprising, in combination, a blower head operable intermittently toblow air along a predetermined axis, a cylinder for containing thegranular material and having an outlet spout, means for positioning saidcylinder alternately in a first position with said spout opening alongsaid axis and in a second position spaced from said axis, means fordispensing a quantity of granular material into said cylinder when thecylinder is in said second position, an expandable die for measuring andshaping a predetermined quantity of the granular material, means forpositioning said die alternately in a first position along said axis ina second position spaced from said first position and in a thirdposition spaced from said first and second positions, a pair of spacedscreens, means for positioning said screens alternatey in a firstposition on opposite sides of said die in its first position forpreventing the passage of material therefrom while permitting the escapeof air during the blow in a second position spaced fiom said axis, andin a third position spaced from said first and second positions, one ofsaid screens having an aperture therethrough corresponding to said spoutfor passing the granular material, said cylinder being interposedbetween said head and said die when the cylinder and die are in theirrespective first positions along said axis, said one screen be nginterposed between said cylinder and said die with said aperturecorresponding to said spout, means for clamping said blower head,cylinder, screens, and die together when the same are in their firstpositions, means operable to cause said head to blow air along said axiswhen said cylinder, screens and die are clamped together in their firstpositions thereby to blow the material from the cylinder through saidspout and screen aperture into the die, air in the die escaping throughsaid screens, mechanism subsequently operable to release said clampingmeans, means for operating said cylinder positioning means and said diepositioning means to advance the cylinder and the die to their secondpositions upon the release of said clamping means, means operative inresponse to the advancing of said die to said second position forexpanding the die, and means operable when said die is expanded in saidposition to transfer the material from the die to a container, and acleaning mechanism operable When said die and said screens are in theirrespective third positions for cleaning the same of residual cohesivegranules, said mechanism including a nozzle for directing a cleaningfluid internally of said die and a pair of spaced brushes for scrubbingsaid screens.

19. A method of dispensing and packaging a predetermined quantity ofmaterial composed of cohesive granules, said method comprising the stepsof, dispensing a quantity of the material at least equal to saidpredetermined quautity into a container, blowing said material from saidcontainer into a receptacle whose volume equals said predeterminedquantity thereby to form said material into a shaped mass correspondingto the shape of said receptacle, and transferring said mass into aflexible walled bag thereby to form a package having substantially thesame shape as said mass and containing said predetermined quantity ofcohesive granular material.

20. The method of dispensing and packaging a predetermined quantity ofmaterial composed of cohesive granules, said method comprising the stepsof blowing said material into a receptacle whose volume equals saidpredetermined quantity thereby to form said material into a shaped masscorresponding to the shape of said receptacle, and transferring saidmass into a flexible walled bag thereby to form a package havingsubstantially the same shape as said mass.

21. A method of dispensing and packaging a predetermined quantity ofmaterial composed of cohesive granules, said method comprising the stepsof, dispensing a quantity of the material at least equal to saidpredetermined quantity into a container, blowing said material from saidcontainer into a receptacle whose volume equals said predeterminedquantity thereby to form said material into a shaped mass correspondingto the shape of said receptacle, transferring said mass into a flexiblewalled bag thereby to form a package having substantially the same shapeas said mass and containing said predetermined quantity of cohesivegranular material, and cleaning said receptacle to remove residualcohesive granules therefrom thereby to present a clean receptacle forreceiving material from the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,058,865 Horntvedt Apr. 15, 1913 1,091,568 Garfield et a1 Mar. 31, 19142,243,058 Wysong May 20, 1941 2,256,939 Copeland Sept. 23, 19412,379,655 Russell et a1. July 3, 1945 2,446,762 Hauck Aug. 10, 19482,611,938 Hansberg Sept. 30, 1952 2,720,737 Vogt Oct. 18, 1955 2,775,084Stirn et al Dec. 25, 1956

